Blessings To Be Thankful For

We're back, and we bet you didn't even know we were gone!  Sunday afternoon, we were really looking forward to a looooong afternoon of down time.  It was Stake Conference, so we were finished with our meeting at noon, with the rest of the day earmarked to do family history.  We wanted to prepare for our trip to Richmond, Virginia, planned for the next day.  The "Commonwealth of Virginia" has a very large genealogy library there, full of Virginia records. We visited a few weeks ago, with a resolve to return soon. 

As we both sat at our computers on Sunday afternoon doing family history, there was a HUGE bang, and then lights out, as well as everything else out.  We soon heard sirens which stopped on Kensington Parkway, close to our apartment.  Gary braved the windy, cold day to investigate.  Seems as how the wind had blown over a very large pine tree.  It fell across the street and took out 5 power poles before it landed.  So of course, no family history the rest of Sunday.  Totally bored, we went to bed at 6pm and read until 7pm.  Then figuratively speaking, "lights out". Literally, "flashlights out".  We knew the power was to be out for a long time, since all we heard all night were multiple chain saws buzzing away.  No power lines could be worked on while that old tree was in the way.

Monday morning dawned with this scene:

Monday morning, with nothing to do in the apartment except huddle around our gas stove for warmth, we decided to make the 2 1/2-hour drive to Richmond anyway, even though we weren't totally prepared.  A lovely breakfast at "Bob Evans", and we were off.  Upon our arrival at the Library, we were informed that it was closed for the day!  Bummer!  Another 2 1/2-hour trip back to Kensington.  But we told ourselves, "Well, at least it got us out of our dark, cold, boring apartment. Certainly the power will be on by the time we get back."  But as we rounded the corner in full view of Kensington Parkway, here's what we saw:

Again, bummer!  The power didn't come on again until 6:30 that evening, but still no internet.  Major improvement(?): we were now able to be bored in a lighted, warm apartment.  We finally had our internet reconnected last night (Wednesday).

Here's what the scene looks like as of this Thursday morning:

The tree "root" of the problem

Across the street, where the tree took out the power poles. (Notice our apartments in the background.)

Bad tree.  Very bad tree!

Having done without the basics that we generally take for granted, It really made us count our blessings even more now that they are restored.

Some of the blessings that didn't temporarily disappear with the downing of the old pine tree are:

         Our health.  There are so many senior temple missionaries here with physical disabilities and health issues, yet they keep on serving. We have our health.  And besides that, we are daily grateful that our 71/72-year-old bodies still allow us to consistently exercise.  No knee problems, no hip problems, no feet problems.  We can "run and not be weary," (me), "and walk and not faint." (your dad).

         Our opportunity to serve a mission.  Besides being blessed physically, we are blessed financially.  Both of these blessings allow us to serve in the Washington DC Temple.  We are blessed to feel the Spirit that resides in the Temple on a daily basis.  We are blessed to be able to perform the priesthood ordinances.  We are blessed to serve with wonderful people.

         Our membership in the Church.  Of all the places and situations in the world in which we could have been born, we were blessed to be born in the covenant, have  testimonies, and enjoy the blessings of our membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

         Our opportunity to do family history.  We meet so many people who would love to do family history, but can't find any ancestors who haven't already had their ordinances performed by another family member.  It is a real blessing to be able to take family names to the temple and have their ordinances completed...especially sealings.  I am grateful for all your help in having endowments completed, but we are selfish when it comes to completing sealings.  Your dad and I do them all ourselves.. There is such a beautiful spirit in the sealing ceremony.  It is the crowning ordinance.  I call the spirit that is present during the sealing ceremonies, the "Crowning Spirit". 

         Our beautiful family.  The greatest blessing we have been given is to have such a wonderful family...and we count that blessing daily.  Once the blessing of being with all of you is restored, we will count the blessing of family even more.

We love you, pray for you, and count the days when we will be together again.  Have a happy Thanksgiving.

All Our Love,

Dad and Mom